WSOC Meets Marquette on BEDN Thursday
10/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Seton Hall Game Notes (PDF) 
l l @SHUWSOCCER on Twitter
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall women's soccer program will make the university's BIG EAST Digital Network debut when the Pirates head to Milwaukee to take on Marquette in a Thursday night conference showdown.
The Pirates (3-7-4, 0-3-2 BIG EAST) are looking for to follow two consecutive draws with their first-ever victory over the fourth-place Golden Eagles (7-6-2, 3-1-1 BIG EAST).
The Hall earned its second point in as many outings on Sunday, playing visiting Xavier to a scoreless tie. Goalkeeper Illissa Blackshear (West Orange, N.J.) came up with two more stops to record her fourth shutout of what has been a breakout sophomore campaign. After allowing two goals in the last three contests - a total of 310 minutes - Blackshear leads all BIG EAST keepers with an 0.83 goals against average and .836 save percentage.
The West Orange native is now tied for ninth on the program's single-season shutouts list and all four of the clean sheets have now come in matches that have reached extra time. Seton Hall remains unbeaten in overtime this fall (1-0-4) and as a team, the Pirates have allowed just 13 goals in 14 matches.
Head coach Rick Stainton's side hits the road for the fourth time in six conference appearances to this point in the season and faces a stiff test in a Marquette team that has recorded all but one of its seven victories within the friendly confines of Valley Fields. MU is also unbeaten in its last five home appearances, outscoring opponents 12-to-3 during the run.
Despite getting out of the gates slowly, Marquette has hit its stride in conference play on the way to 10 points in five matches. The MU attack has been one of the most prolific units in the league, standing either first or second in the BIG EAST in six major offensive categories since the start of conference play.
The preseason favorite to repeat as league champions, the Golden Eagles are looking to rebound however after sustaining their first conference loss of the season last weekend by dropping a 4-0 decision at Georgetown.
Senior Mary Luba (4G, 4A) and sophomore Liz Bartels (3G, 4A) lead 14 team members who have recorded at least two points this fall and in the most recent meeting between the two squads, the two linked up for the only goal pf the night as then-#20 Marquette clipped The Hall, 1-0, last October at Owen T. Carroll Field.
Another shutout could be in the cards as Seton Hall's top-ranked defense has proven an ability to limit the most potent attacks in the league. To this point in the campaign, both teams have scored in only three of the Pirates' 14 matches.
Match time is scheduled for 8 p.m. eastern time against and the match will be shown live on the BIG EAST Digital Network via Fox Sports GO. Patrick Reed will handle play-by-play duties alongside color commentator Matt Schroeder.
Further match updates will also be available through @SHUWSOCCER on Twitter.
